Discussing the evolution of one Homer J Simpson (aka Max Power) from simple minded boob to blubbering idiot.

Yeah. The simple but caring Homer gave the show so much 'glue' back in the day that just isn't there anymore.

For all the bitching the writers do on the DVDs about Family Guy (which I quite hate) they have done a bang up job turning Homer into Peter Griffin. :\

I don't think they bitch about Family Guy that often. I agree, while I'm not that big a fan of the "Chocolate Frosty Milkshakes!" version of Homer, that he has decreased and the thing I hate about modern!Homer is how much he screams. It seems like the writers just think Homer screaming is funny when it's really just gotten on my nerves. Another thing is how Homer sometimes will just go out of his way to be gross or disgusting and I don't really find it that funny. I didn't even mind Panda!Rape but stuff like kissing Michael York and slipping him his gum was just nauseating to me.

For all his faults, I don't think Homer has ever gotten as bad as Peter Griffin. Unlike Peter, there's still an underlying innocence to Homer's actions while at the same time being quite a bit smarter than Peter (even at Homer's stupidest). He's not the best guy but I've never seen him as being particularly malevolent. And, above all, I do think he still cares for his children which, while it was gone for awhile, I definitely think has come back. He might be clueless but he will come through for Bart, Lisa and the other one.

I agree with your entire post CantThinkUpName I still love Homer, and it seems like they are trying to get his character back on track. Nothing will beat Homer seasons 4-8

At first, when Homer became the central part of the ensemble, it was a refreshing change from Bart the Star (great a character as Bart is); it was like, "Oh, cool, a Homer-centric episode!" Later on, though, it became, "Oh, crap, a Homer-centric episode". Of course, by that time, it was more focused on the entire huge ensemble.

When all is said and done, though, it depends on the episode itself and how they see it through, especially in the last couple of years where the quality fluctuates.

I have to agree with the general sentiment. The Homer of yore had a lot more heart; see: "The Last Temptation of Homer", "Lisa's Pony", and "And Maggie Makes Three". Lately, he is far more selfish and less lovably innocent. Homer seems to come far before his family and that's a total abandonment of the Homer that we all fell in love with.

I think that Fox never greenlit a 'Teenager Homer' show is absolutely disgraceful. There was a flashback to Homer in the episode where Krusty hires Bart... and it was so funny I actually fell off my chair.

Oh - and I like Family Guy... but I really don't want to see the same character on two shows. They need to really make Homer a bumbling guy with a heart steada an annoying ass.

Agreed that Homer's stupidity needs to be leavened with a bit of "heart" to make him likeable as a character. I also think they've been changing the type of Homer's stupidity to make him more ignorant (like in the gay episodes) than simply oblivious (like in the episode where Apu loses his job at the Kwik-E-Mart, or the infamous Frank Grimes episode). That and all the gross-out humour (look at Homer's distended eyeball! look at Homer's scabby infected knee! look at the butterfly eat its way into Homer's brain!) seems to revolve around him, and I hate that stuff.

In the flash-forward episode where Lisa marries Hugh she calls Marge to give her the good news and Marge is thrilled but then she says sadly " ... if only your father was still here ..." then she brightens and quickly says " ... but he's already gone to work ! "

That joke doesn't work for me because the idea of Homer being dead -- even entertaining the notion of it for a split second -- is just devestating. Now y'all quit yer grousing !

"I'm Archie Bell and I'm also the Dells and this is the song you tigten up to. Up Yours Giuseppe!"

Since they're talking about the worst thing Bart has done on his thread, I was wondering what you all think is the worst thing Homer has done? I would have to say when he made Marge believe that she was driving drunk. That was just way too out of character for him.

I agree, Videostar. I don't care about continuity or character development at all, but that entire framing Marge for a felony thing was not only unnecessary, but also totally out of character.

What about the time the family was driving home in the car, and Homer wouldn't stop to let Grampa go to the bathroom? Then Grampa needed a kidney transplant, and Homer ran away. That was pretty selfish.

But "Inside The Actor's Studio" was on and they were missing it! With F Murray Abraham! F Murray Abraham!

I've was thinking about it, and it seems as though they have Homer use the wrong word (or just mangle a word on it's own) exactly the right amount. For example, if you watch the Sopranos, they have Little Carmine do it to the point where it stopped being funny. However, with Homer it's just the right amount. My favorites are "Ooooh, macamadamia nuts!" and "Daaaad, we'd all love to listen to your amusing antidotes..."

The reason I thought of this is because I recently saw this one again, and it's been running through my mind for some reason: "Dear Lord, thank you for this microwave bounty even though we don't deserve it. I mean, our kids are uncontrollable hellions. Pardon my French, but they act like savages. Did You see them at the picnic? Of course You did. You're everywhere. You're omnivorous. O Lord, why did You smite me with this family?"

"You're omnivorous" is possibly my favorite Homerism ever. It's pure Archie Bunker and I love it.

About every four years I also think about Homer explaining the "electrical college" to Apu.

"Stupid like a fox!!!" is one of my faves of all time. I just love how he says these things with such conviction. Also- "We don't need a thinker. We need a doer, someone who'll act without considering the consequences." Go Homer- kick some back!

I'm also very partial to Homer's "Too bad we don't live on a farm" in response to Lisa's declaration she could win a protractor and "You mean all white with pink eyes" when Skinner tells him the Simpsons will be getting an Albanian exchange student.

My favorite is Lisa's "saxamaphone."

My dad had to explain that one to me.

For the longest time, "Put a miniature beret on your wang" became part of my personal lexicon. Somehow, "I'm going to go put a little beret on my wang" meant "I have to go to the bathroom." Yeah, I don't know either, but that line still makes me laugh.

Oh, I forgot about that one. It was so early in the series, but looking back on it now, lines like that one are what made people realize that this show was a lot smarter that it appeared to be.

In the episode where Mr. Burns is looking for a male heir, Homer sends Bart up on stage armed with some flash cards with completely disjointed phrases:

"Hello, Mr.... Kerns... me Bart... me... dying. Give... money... now."

Homer, offstage and off-"camera": "Oooh, him card reads good!"

Classic.

Homer's also had his fair share of incorrect lyrics over the years, and they are generally quite funny.

"I take a whiskey drink, I take a chocolate drink, and when I need to pee, I use the kitchen sink."

or

"You put the beer in the coconut, and drink it all up."

or

"Oh over there! Oh over there! I want to be in that number, when the Saints go over there!"

Edited because Homer's altered lyrics aren't mondegreens per se, he probably doesn't actually hear the songs that way, he just sings them differently then the rest of the world.

What about one of my personal favorite Homer songs:

"Oh Mindy! You came and you gave without flaking! But I sent you Ben-Gay; Oh Andy! You kissed me and stopped me from something..."

"Oh over there! Oh over there! I want to be in that number, when the Saints go over there!"

Even better, I think it's "how I want to be in that rhumba"

I love how he mangles cliches but still manages to get the right idea across. "Beggars can't be choosy."

Actually on one of the DVD commentaries they mention that a running joke in the show is the fact that Homer doesn't know the correct words to any song. My favorite is Homer's version of Radar Love (especially since he also sings the guitar parts):

Been drivin’ all night, hands wet on the wheel
There's a voice in my head that drives my heel
It's my baby callin' on the telephone
Said I got some pizza and I'm bringing it home

Edited because I found out which episode it was. Thanks anyways.

Homer hosts the Tonight Show.

Does anyone else think they've gotten Homer right this season? I mean he's still pretty dumb and a bit of a jerk, but it's not as bad as in previous seasons. I mean in last night's episode he was actually early to Lisa's award ceremony. (Even if he did try to use Maggie as a tie).

I like that there is more loving interaction with the kids. I thought "Here's your nose back! Oh wait, that's Lisa's" was adorable.